scholarly journals Association between basilar artery configuration and Vessel Wall features: a prospective high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziqi Xu ◽  
Mingyao Li ◽  
Zhikai Hou ◽  
Jinhao Lyu ◽  
Na Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The relationship between intracranial vessel configuration and wall features remains poorly investigated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the distal and proximal anatomical configuration of basilar artery (BA) and BA vessel wall features on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI). Methods From September 2014 to January 2017, patients with suspected symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis underwent HRMRI. Patients with severe BA stenosis were selected for this prospective study and divided into two groups corresponding to complete and incomplete BA configuration based on characteristics of the bilateral vertebral arteries and posterior cerebral arteries. Culprit blood vessel wall features on HRMRI included plaque enhancement, intraplaque hemorrhage, remodeling patterns, and plaque distribution. Culprit vessel wall features were compared between patients in the complete and incomplete BA configuration groups. Results Among the 298 consecutively enrolled patients, 34 had severe BA stenosis. Twenty patients had complete anatomical BA configuration and another 14 of them displayed incomplete configuration. There were no significant differences in vessel wall features between the complete and incomplete configuration patient groups. However, the proximal configuration of BA was associated with intraplaque hemorrhage (p = 0.002) while the distal configuration of BA correlated with strong enhancement of BA plaque (p = 0.041). Conclusions No association was found between the complete and incomplete BA configuration groups and blood vessel wall features. The proximal configuration of BA was related with intraplaque hemorrhage and the distal configuration of BA was associated with strong plaque enhancement. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings. Trial registration URL: Unique identifier: NCT02705599 (March 10, 2016).

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziqi Xu ◽  
Mingyao Li ◽  
Zhikai Hou ◽  
Jinhao Lyu ◽  
Na Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The relationship between intracranial vessel configuration and wall features remains poorly investigated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the distal and proximal anatomical configuration of basilar artery (BA) and BA vessel wall features on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) . Methods From September 2014 to January 2017, patients with suspected symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis underwent HRMRI. Patients with severe BA stenosis were selected for this prospective study and divided into two groups corresponding to complete and incomplete BA configuration based on characteristics of the bilateral vertebral arteries and posterior cerebral arteries. Culprit blood vessel wall features on HRMRI included plaque enhancement, intraplaque hemorrhage, remodeling patterns, and plaque distribution. Culprit vessel wall features were compared between patients in the complete and incomplete BA configuration groups. Results Among the 298 consecutively enrolled patients, 34 had severe BA stenosis. 20 patients had complete anatomical BA configuration and another 14 of them displayed incomplete configuration. There were no significant differences in vessel wall features between the complete and incomplete configuration patient groups. However, the proximal configuration of BA was associated with intraplaque hemorrhage (p=0.002) while the distal configuration of BA correlated with strong enhancement of BA plaque (p=0.041). Conclusions No association was found between the complete and incomplete BA configuration groups and blood vessel wall features. The proximal configuration of BA was related with intraplaque hemorrhage and the distal configuration of BA was associated with strong plaque enhancement. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings. Trial Registration : URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02705599 (March 10, 2016).


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziqi Xu ◽  
Mingyao Li ◽  
Zhikai Hou ◽  
Jinhao Lyu ◽  
Na Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The relationship between intracranial vessel configuration and wall features remains poorly investigated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the distal and proximal anatomical configuration of basilar artery (BA) and BA vessel wall features on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) . Methods From September 2014 to January 2017, patients with suspected symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis underwent HRMRI. Patients with severe BA stenosis were selected for this prospective study and divided into two groups corresponding to complete and incomplete BA configuration based on characteristics of the bilateral vertebral arteries and posterior cerebral arteries. Culprit blood vessel wall features on HRMRI included plaque enhancement, intraplaque hemorrhage, remodeling patterns, and plaque distribution. Culprit vessel wall features were compared between patients in the complete and incomplete BA configuration groups. Results Among the 298 consecutively enrolled patients, 34 had severe BA stenosis. 20 patients had complete anatomical BA configuration and another 14 of them displayed incomplete configuration. There were no significant differences in vessel wall features between the complete and incomplete configuration patient groups. However, the proximal configuration of BA was associated with intraplaque hemorrhage (p=0.002) while the distal configuration of BA correlated with strong enhancement of BA plaque (p=0.041). Conclusions No association was found between the complete and incomplete BA configuration groups and blood vessel wall features. The proximal configuration of BA was related with intraplaque hemorrhage and the distal configuration of BA was associated with strong plaque enhancement. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings. Trial Registration : URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02705599 (March 10, 2016).


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangyan Chen ◽  
Lu Zheng ◽  
Jia LI ◽  
Wenjie Yang

Backgrounds: The purpose of this study was to investigate vessel wall features visualization by high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) in a series of ischemic stroke patients and to identify differences between lesions in the anterior and posterior circulation. Methods: We consecutively recruited Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack from 2016 to 2018. All patients were scanned at 3T magnetic resonance imaging. We evaluated pre-and post-contrast cross-sectional views of M1 and M2 segments of middle cerebral arteries (MCAs), basilar arteries (BA) and V4 segments of vertebral arteries (VAs). Results: A total of 74 patients (males 52.3%; median age 62 years old) were included in this study, among which, 234 lesions were identified on HRMRI, including 117 MCA lesions, 26 BA lesions, and 91 VA lesions. The sensitivity and specificity of MRA for diagnosing stenosis in anterior circulation were 89.3% (95% CI, 81.8%- 94.2%) and 50.0 (95% CI, 9.2%- 90.8%). The sensitivity and specificity of MRA for diagnosing stenosis in posterior circulation were 73.2% (95% CI, 63.9%- 80.9%) and 40.0 (95% CI, 7.3%- 83.0%). VA had a significantly higher contrast enhancement index (43.71± 7.74, p <0.016) than MCA (23.32± 2.46) or BA (22.69± 5.31) . Anterior circulation plaques had higher degree of stenosis (anterior versus posterior: 68.5% vs. 62.9%, p =0.036), more eccentric distribution (anterior versus posterior: 70.1% versus 53.8%, p =0.015) and higher rate of intraplaque hemorrhage (anterior versus posterior: 17.1% versus 7.7%, p =0.046). The plaques in posterior circulation had a thicker lesion wall (posterior versus anterior 16.58± 8.25 mm 2 vs. 9.10± 4.07 mm 2 , p <0.001) and higher enhancement index (posterior versus anterior 39.04± 8.50 vs. 23.32± 2.46, p <0.001) than the plaques in anterior circulation. Conclusions: The lesions in posterior circulations could be obscure on MRA. The area stenosis, intraplaque hemorrhage and enhancement index differed between circulations.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziqi Xu ◽  
Mingyao Li ◽  
Zhikai Hou ◽  
Jinhao Lyu ◽  
Na Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We aimed to investigate the relationship between distal and proximal anatomical configurations of basilar artery (BA) and vessel wall features on high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI). Methods From September 2014 to January 2017, patients with suspected symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis underwent HRMRI. Patients with severe BA stenosis were enrolled. Configurations of BA were divided complete and incomplete groups based on with or without bilateral vertebral arties and posterior cerebral arteries. Culprit vessel wall features on HRMRI included enhancement grade, intraplaque hemorrhage, remodeling patterns, and plaque distribution. Culprit vessel wall features were compared between complete and incomplete groups. Results Among the 298 consecutively enrolled patients, 34 consecutive patients had severe BA stenosis. Seventeen patients had complete configuration and 14 patients with incomplete configuration. There were no statistics difference in vessel wall features between complete and incomplete groups configuration groups. The proximal configuration of BA was associated with intraplaque hemorrhage(p=0.002) and the distal configuration of BA correlated with strong enhancement of BA plaque(p=0.041). Conclusions The complete and incomplete groups configuration of BA did not associate with vessel wall features. The proximal configuration of BA was related with intraplaque hemorrhage and the distal configuration of BA was associated with strong plaque enhancement. These findings are continuously needed to confirmed in future studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinmei Zheng ◽  
Bin Sun ◽  
Ruolan Lin ◽  
Yongqi Teng ◽  
Xihai Zhao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Atherosclerotic plaques are often present in regions of arteries with complicated flow patterns. Vascular morphology plays important role in hemodynamics. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the geometry of the vertebrobasilar artery system and presence of basilar artery (BA) plaque. Methods We enrolled 290 patients with posterior circulation ischemic stroke. We distinguished four configurations of the vertebrobasilar artery: Walking, Tuning Fork, Lambda, and No Confluence. Patients were divided into multi-bending (≥ 3 bends) and oligo-bending (< 3 bends) VA groups. The diameter of the vertebral artery (VA) and the number of bends in the intracranial VA segment were assessed using three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate BA plaques. Logistic regression models were used to determine the relationship between the geometry type and BA plaque prevalence. Results After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index ≥ 28, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, the Walking, Lambda, and No Confluence geometries were associated with the presence of BA plaque (all p < 0.05). Patients with multi-bending VAs in both the Walking (20/28, 71.43% vs. 6/21, 28.57%, p = 0.003) and Lambda group (19/47, 40.43% vs. 21/97, 21.65%, p = 0.018) had more plaques compared to patients with oligo-bending VAs in these groups. In the Lambda group, the difference in diameter of bilateral VAs was larger in patients with BA plaques than that in patients without BA plaques (1.4 mm [IQR: 0.9–1.6 mm] vs. 0.9 mm [IQR: 0.6–1.3 mm], p < 0.001). Conclusions The Walking, Lambda, and No Confluence geometry, ≥ 3 bends in the VAs, and a large diameter difference between bilateral VAs are associated with the presence of BA plaque.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinmei Zheng ◽  
Bin Sun ◽  
Ruolan Lin ◽  
Yongqi Teng ◽  
Xihai Zhao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Atherosclerotic plaques are often present in regions with complicated flow patterns. Vascular morphology plays a role in hemodynamics. In this study, we investigate the relationship between the geometry of the vertebrobasilar artery system and the basilar artery (BA) plaque prevalence. Methods We enrolled 290 patients with posterior circulation ischemic stroke. We distinguished four configurations of the vertebrobasilar artery: Walking, Tuning Fork, Lambda, and No Confluence. The diameter of the vertebral artery (VA) and the number of bends in the intracranial VA segment was assessed using three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography. We differentiated between multi-bending (≥ 3 bends) and oligo-bending (< 3 bends) VAs. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate BA plaques. Logistic regression models examined the relationship between the geometry type and BA plaque prevalence. Results After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index ≥ 28, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, the Walking, Lambda, and No Confluence geometries were associated with the presence of BA plaque. Patients with multi-bending VAs in both the Walking (71.43%, P = 0.003) and Lambda group (40.43%, P = 0.018) had more plaques compared to patients with oligo-bending VAs in these groups. In the Lambda group, the diameter difference between the VAs was larger in patients with BA plaques than that in patients without BA plaques (1.4 mm vs. 0.9 mm, P < 0.001). Conclusions The Walking, Lambda, and No Confluence geometry, ≥ 3 bends in the VAs, and a large diameter difference between the VAs were associated with the presence of BA plaque.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 2161-2169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhang Shi ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Ming Zhao ◽  
Wenjia Peng ◽  
Zakaria Meddings ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: Intracranial atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of stroke, and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging provides useful imaging biomarkers related to the risk of ischemic events. This study aims to evaluate differences in histogram features between culprit and nonculprit intracranial atherosclerosis using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: Two hundred forty-seven patients with intracranial atherosclerosis who underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging sequentially between January 2015 and December 2016 were recruited. Quantitative features, including stenosis, plaque burden, minimum luminal area, intraplaque hemorrhage, enhancement ratio, and dispersion of signal intensity (coefficient of variation), were analyzed based on T2-, T1-, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. Step-wise regression analysis was used to identify key determinates differentiating culprit and nonculprit plaques and to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs. Results: In total, 190 plaques were identified, of which 88 plaques (37 culprit and 51 nonculprit) were located in the middle cerebral artery and 102 (57 culprit and 45 nonculprit) in the basilar artery. Nearly 90% of culprit lesions had a degree of luminal stenosis of <70%. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that intraplaque hemorrhage (OR, 16.294 [95% CI, 1.043–254.632]; P =0.047), minimum luminal area (OR, 1.468 [95% CI, 1.032–2.087]; P =0.033), and coefficient of variation (OR, 13.425 [95% CI, 3.987–45.204]; P <0.001) were 3 significant features in defining culprit plaques in middle cerebral artery. The enhancement ratio (OR, 9.476 [95% CI, 1.256–71.464]; P =0.029), intraplaque hemorrhage (OR, 2.847 [95% CI, 0.971–10.203]; P =0.046), and coefficient of variation (OR, 10.068 [95% CI, 2.820–21.343]; P <0.001) were significantly associated with plaque type in basilar artery. Coefficient of variation was a strong independent predictor in defining plaque type for both middle cerebral artery and basilar artery with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy being 0.79, 0.80, and 0.80, respectively. Conclusions: Features characterized by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging provided complementary values over luminal stenosis in defined lesion type for intracranial atherosclerosis; the dispersion of signal intensity in histogram analysis was a particularly effective predictive parameter.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 100920
Author(s):  
Dittapong Songsaeng ◽  
Ittichai Sakarunchai ◽  
Sasithorn Harmontree ◽  
Sakun Mongkolnaowarat ◽  
Panida Charnchaowanish ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 225
Author(s):  
Łukasz Zwarzany ◽  
Ernest Tyburski ◽  
Wojciech Poncyljusz

Background: We decided to investigate whether aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) on high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (HR VW-MRI) coexists with the conventional risk factors for aneurysm rupture. Methods: We performed HR VW-MRI in 46 patients with 64 unruptured small intracranial aneurysms. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were recorded. The PHASES score was calculated for each aneurysm. Results: Of the 64 aneurysms, 15 (23.4%) showed wall enhancement on post-contrast HR VW-MRI. Aneurysms with wall enhancement had significantly larger size (p = 0.001), higher dome-to-neck ratio (p = 0.024), and a more irregular shape (p = 0.003) than aneurysms without wall enhancement. The proportion of aneurysms with wall enhancement was significantly higher in older patients (p = 0.011), and those with a history of prior aneurysmal SAH. The mean PHASES score was significantly higher in aneurysms with wall enhancement (p < 0.000). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that aneurysm irregularity and the PHASES score are independently associated with the presence of AWE. Conclusions: Aneurysm wall enhancement on HR VW-MRI coexists with the conventional risk factors for aneurysm rupture.


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